Draft rigging



June 12, 1951 W. J. METZGER DRAFT RIGGING Filed May 3, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BYQMVQ ATTORNEY June 12, 1951 ET GE 2,556,732

DRAFT RIGGING I 'ATTQRNE? Patented June 12 1951 :.--:.v

' NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William J. Metzger, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Application May 3, 1946, Serial No. 666,960

. 16 Claims.

The invention relates to draft rigging for railway cars and more particularly to car coupler supporting and centering apparatus for use in conjunction with freight car couplers of a type which may be angled both horizontally and vertically relative to the coupler yoke. In my copending application, Serial No. 561,367, filed November 1, 1944, now Patent No. 2,431,576, I have disclosed one form of universal coupler shank and yoke connection with which my present invention may be employed and, by way of illustration, I shall describe the preferred embodiment of my present invention in conjunction with this particular type of universal yoke connection. I In another of my copending applications, Serial No. 561,368, filed (November 1, 1944, now Patent No. 2,515,964, I have disclosed a striking casting and carrier iron construction which provides an improved support for the forward end of a conpler mounted for both vertical and horizontal angling. It is an object of my presentinvention to provide further improvements in coupler supporting means, and especially to provide simple and effective means for resisting upward and lateral angling of the coupler.

Resistance to upward angling is of particular importance from the standpoint of eliminating the'danger of disengagement of locked engaging couplers by slip-overs, a hazard which may be encountered when a coupler'of the tight-lock or interlocking type is coupled to a non-interlocking coupler; My invention provides ,means for effectively resisting upward angling of the coupler by means of ayoke which is constructed to surround the coupler shank and to be received within the striking casting or carrier housingto form an operating part of the coupler supporting mechanism.

Resistance to extreme lateral angling is of importance in maintaining proper alignment between engaging couplers (i. e. to preventfjackknifing) under conditions encountered whena heavy train is being pushed upgrade after tr.aversing a curve, or under conditions of engine braking when adownhill grade follows aicurve. In such cases the cars leave the curve withcouplers in laterally angled positions, and since the cars are being pushed against one another the tendency is to hold the couplers out of line. It is a further object of my invention to provide means for restraining extreme lateral angling and for urging the couplers away from extreme laterally angled positions toward the centerline of the cars", andparticularly to provide means foru'tilizing the carrier iron supportingsprings injexe'r'tingthe restraining and centering action. An additional advantage of my construction is that it holds the couplers toward the center when the cars are turned over in a rotary dump.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a carrier and carrier housing embodying my invention in its preferred form. Thisview shows the application of the carrier and housing to the end of a freight car in conjunction with one form of universal coupler shank and yoke connection.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The invention is illustrated (Fig. l) in its application to standard freight car construction embodying center sills it], end sill I! and yoke carrier l2. As I have stated, my invention may be employed in conjunction with universal yoke connections of various types but is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with the type of connection described in my copending application Serial No. 561,367, and this is the type. of

connection I have shown for illustrative purposes. It comprises, in conjunction with the radial shank of the coupler I3, a radial draft and buffing member l4 pivotally secured to the coupler shank by means of the vertical pin 15 and pivotally secured to the head of the yoke I6 by the horizontal draft pin ll.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the coupler supporting and centering apparatus comprises in its general arrangement a carrier housing 18, a vertically movable yoke l9 within and supported by the housing having an opening for the shank of coupler l3, a coupler carrier 20 at the lower side of said opening, and coil springs 2| between the under side of the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke. The carrier housing or striking casting I8 is designed to provide for the requisite vertical and horizontal angling of the coupler [3. This striking casting has a rectangular opening for the coupler shank and comprises an upper wall 22 with depending side walls 23. Attaching flanges 24 and 25 extend upwardly from the upper wall 22 and inwardly along the under side of the inwardly projecting flanges 26 of the center sills l6 Spaced parallel flanges 21 extend inwardly from the walls 22, 23 at the top arid'sides of the housing, defining the opening for the coupler shank. At the lower part of the housing, portions 2'! of these flanges extend from one depending side wall 23 to the other, joining them together (Figs. 1 and 3). These flanges form a box-like structure reinforcing the top and side walls of the housing. Further reinforcement is provided by a web 28 joining the top wall 22 and flange 24.

Flanges 29 extend rearwardly from the inside flanges 21 at the sides of the housing for attachment to the side of the vertical webs of center sills ID.

The width of the opening between the edges of flanges 21 at the face of the housing is greater than the width at the inside of the housing, providing for increased coupler angling laterally. Side walls 23 are provided with offset portions 30 (Fig. 2) at their lower ends to provide recessed portions 3| forming vertical guideways for the yoke l9 and carrier 20 and stop shoulders 32 for engagement by the carrier. Outwardly projecting flanges 33 at the base of the housing are provided for attachment of supporting plates 34 to hold the carrier assembly in place in the housing.

Yoke I9 has an upper portion 35 overlying the top of the coupler shank with inclined sections 36 for engagement by the coupler shank when the latter is angled laterally. The sides 31 of the yoke have transverse vertical slots 38 of a width preferably equal to the width of the recesses 3| in the housing and aligned therewith. Adjacent its lower portion 39, the yoke has outwardly projecting lugs 40 reinforced by a web 4|, these lugs being arranged to project into the recesses 3| of the housing for sliding engagement therewith. The lower portion of the yoke is reinforced by transverse marginal flanges 42.

Carrier iron 20 likewise has outwardly projecting lugs 43 for guiding engagement with the recesses 3| of the housing, these lugs being reinforced by webs 44 which connect them to the depending reinforcing flanges 45 which extend along the side margins of the carrier iron and across its ends as shown. The lugs 43 project through the slots 38 in the sides of the yoke and into the recesses 3| of the housing as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The carrier iron is further provided with centering means for the upper ends of the springs 2|, such as the annular bosses 46 and 41. Similar centering means are provided on the top of the lower portion 39 of the yoke for centering the lower ends of the springs. The central boss 41 of the carrier iron is apertured to receive the retaining bolt 48. The upper side of the carrier iron is recessed at 49 to receive the head of the retaining bolt 48. A wear plate 50 is welded or otherwise secured to the top of the carrier.

If desired, forward draft stops may be formed integrally with the flanges 29 of the carrier housing.

The yoke l9, carrier iron 20 and springs 2| are assembled with the retaining bolt 48 prior to assembly in the carrier housing. The preliminary assembly is effected as follows: Carrier 20 is first assembled with the yoke l9 by an angling move ment. To do this the carrier is placed within the yoke while tilted to an angle of approximately 45 and with its upper corner adjacent the upper corner of the yoke. The carrier is then lowered sufficiently to permit it to be rotated to bring the lugs 43 of the carrier into the slots 38 of the yoke. Then the carrier is raised toward the upper ends of the slots sufficiently to permit insertion of the springs 2|. The carrier is then lowered onto the springs, the retaining bolt inserted and tightened to bring the springs under substantial initial compression, while at the same time bringing the lugs 40 of the yoke and 43 of the carrier together until they are spaced a proper distance to fit between the stop shoulders 32 and supporting or retaining plates 34 of the housing. Then the carrier assembly is placed in the housing in the position shown in the drawings and retaining plates 34 are rivetted in place. If desired, the retaining bolt 48 may be removed after assembly has been completed although this is not necessary.

Operation of a car coupler and centering apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is as follows: Upon downward angling of the coupler, the carrier iron 20 is forced downwardly in the vertical guideways 3| of the housing compressing the springs 2|, the yoke I 9 being held against downward movement by engagement of its lugs 40 with the retaining plates 34. Before the springs go over solid, the under side of the coupler shank engages the top of flanges 21 Upon upward angling of the coupler, the coupler shank engages the upper portion 35 of the yoke I9, lifting it upwardly and compressing the springs 2|, the carrier iron 20 being held against movement by engagement of its lugs 43 with the stop shoulders 32 of the housing. Re sistance to extreme lateral angling is provided by the downwardly inclined portions 36 of the upper portion of the yoke IS in conjunction with the rest of the carrier assembly. Under condi= tions encountered when a heavy train is being pushed upgrade after traversing a curve, or under conditions of engine braking when a downhill grade follows a curve, the cars leave the curve with couplers in laterally angled position, and since the cars are being pushed together, the tendency is to hold the couplers out of line. However the construction I have disclosed herein. serves to urge the couplers away from extreme laterally angled positions and toward the centerline of the cars, assisting in returning them toward the center as soon as the cars reach straight track. Yet this is accomplished without the use of auxiliary centering means, the only means employed being that provided by the car rier ir'on supporting springs and the cooperating yoke construction.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limit ing sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described, or of portions thereof, as fall within the purview of the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a carrier housing, a yoke vertically movable within the housing, said yoke being supported from the housing and having an opening for a coupler shank, a coupler carrier at the lower side of said opening,.and s ring means between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke.

2. In combination, a carrier housing, a yoke vertically movable within the housing, said yoke being supported from the housing and having an opening for a coupler shank, a coupler carrier at the lower side of said opening, spring means between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke, support means on the housing for limiting downward movement of the yoke, and stop means on the housing for limiting upward movement of the carrier.

3. In combination, a carrier housing, a yoke slidably arranged for vertical movement inthe housing and supported therein, said yoke constructed to surround a coupler shank, a coupler carrier slidably arranged in the yoke, and spring means between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke.

4. In combination, a carrier housing, a yoke slidably arranged for vertical movement in the housing and supported therein, said yoke constructed to surround a coupler shank, a coupler carrier slidably arranged in the yoke, spring carrier-supporting means between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke, support means on the housing for limiting downward movement of the yoke, and stop means on the housing for limiting upward movement of the carrier.

5. In combination, a carrier housing, a yoke vertically movable within the housing, said yoke being supported from the housing and constructed to surround the coupler shank, a coupler carrier, and spring carrier-supporting means between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke, the part of the yoke which overlies the top of the coupler shank having downwardly inclined portions at each side of the coupler shank, for engagement by the coupler shank when the latter is angled laterally, thereb to resist extreme lateral angling.

6. In combination, a yoke constructed to surround a coupler shank, a coupler carrier extending across the yoke intermediate the upper and lower portions of the yoke, spring means between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke, support means for engagement with the yoke to limit downward movement of the yoke, and stop means for engagement with the carrier to limit upward movement of the carrier.

7. In combination, a yoke constructed to surround a coupler shank, a coupler carrier extending across the yok intermediate the upper and lower portions of the yoke, spring means between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke, support means for engagement with the yoke to limit downward movement of the yoke, and stop means for engagement with the carrier to limit upward movement of the carrier, the sides of the yoke being constructed for guiding engagement with the carrier during relative movement between yoke and carrier.

8. In combination, a carrier housing, a yoke vertically slidable within the housing and sup- 1 ported therein, a coupler carrier extendin across the yoke intermediate the upper and lower portions of the yoke, and guide means on the housing for engagement with the yoke and carrier.

9. In combination, a carrier housing, a yoke vertically slidable within the housing and supported therein, a coupler carrier extending across the yoke intermediate the upper and lower portions of the yoke, and guide means on the housing for engagement with the yoke and carrier, the yoke and carrier also having guiding engagement with one another.

10. In combination, a carrier housing having an opening for a coupler shank, a yoke vertically movable within the housing and supported therein, said yoke having slotted sides, a carrier extending across the yoke intermediate the upper and lower portions of the yoke and having lugs extending through the slots in the yoke, and springs between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke.

11. In combination, a carrier housing having an opening for a coupler shank, a yoke vertically movable withinthehousing and supported therein, said yoke having slotted sides, a carrier extending across the yoke intermediate the upper and lower portions of the yoke and having lugs extending through the slots in the yoke, and springs between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke, the sides of the carrier housing having recessed portions for sliding engagement with said carrier lugs.

12. In combination, a carrier housing having an opening for a coupler shank, a yoke vertically movable within the housing and supported therein, said yoke having slotted sides, a carrier extending across the yoke intermediate the upper and lower portions of the yoke and having lugs extending through the slots in the yoke, and springs between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke, the sides of the carrier housing having recessed portions for sliding engagement with said carrier lugs and with lugs on the yoke.

13. In combination, a carrier housing having an opening for a coupler shank, a yoke vertically movable within the housing and supported therein, said yoke constructed to surround the coupler shank, a carrier extending across the yoke intermediate the upper and lower portions of the yoke, and springs between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke, the sides of the carrier housing having recessed portions providing vertical guideways, stop shoulders at the upper ends of the recesses, the sides of the yoke having slots and the carrier having lugs projecting through the slots for engagement with the guideways and stop shoulders, lugs adjacent the lower portion of the yoke for engagement with the guideways, and retaining means for holding the yoke in assembled relationship with the housing.

14. A carrier assembly comprising a vertically movable yoke to surround a coupler shank and a spring-supported carrier in the yoke.

15. A carrier assembly comprisin a vertically movable yoke to surround a coupler shank and a spring-supported carrier in the yoke, the upper portion of the yoke having downwardly inclined sections disposed laterally of the coupler shank at each side for engagement by the coupler shank.

16. In combination, a carrier housing, a yoke vertically movable within the housing and supported therein, said yoke having an opening for a coupler shank, the yoke being adapted to move upwardly in response to upward movement of the coupler, a coupler carrier within the housing adapted to move downwardly, and spring means between the carrier and the lower portion of the yoke opposing upward and downward movement of the coupler.

- WILLIAM J. METZGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS r Number Name Date 533,609 Richards Feb. 3, 1895 1,603,661 Christianson Oct. 19, 1926 1,884,154 OConnor Oct. 25, 1932 2,043,090 Barrows June 2, 1936 2,061,319 Gilpin Nov. 17, 1936 

